years of his life. In New Zealand in 1990, Ronalde filled the 2,500-capacity Aotea Theatre, and was invited to stay for another concert. He was also asked to return for repeat performances in both Auckland and Christchurch town halls. Ronalde was awarded America's North Carolina Louisburg Hall of Fame Award in 1995, their highest acclaim, given only to artists of outstanding international distinction. His recording "Bird Song at Eventide" was featured in the hit TV series, and subsequent best-selling soundtrack, The Singing Detective in 1986. His 1998 autobiography entitled Around the World on a Whistle drew extensively on memorabilia, theatre bills, photographs and clippings, and is a document of the published history of variety circuits. He quipped that his next book would have been "an Encyclopaedia of Whistling". EMI Australia released a CD with the same title Around the World on a Whistle in the 1990s. In testament to the longevity of his popularity, this gained him another Gold Disc and a small upsurge in his career. EMI subsequently released a number of albums of Ronalde's early works that had not been available since their original gramophone releases. In 2002, he was inducted into the exclusive entertainment charitable fraternity, the Grand Order of Water Rats. Ronalde appeared in the 2007 Australian feature film Clubland. Ronalde made an appearance at the Hackney Empire for a charity evening, The Golden Years of Variety, on Sunday 9 September 2012, when he received a standing ovation. His final public appearance was at Beccles Public Hall & Theatre on Sunday 19 May 2013. He suffered a stroke shortly after his 90th birthday in 2013, and subsequently moved into Brinsworth House, the retired entertainers' home in Twickenham, where he died. The comedians Bob Hope, Jimmy Edwards, Morecambe and Wise, Bob Monkhouse, Peter Cook, Max Wall and Max Bygraves have all made references to 'Whistling Ronnie' in their routines. Terry-Thomas joked that he was sick of hearing Ronalde's whistling, and attempted impersonations. Discography EP Columbia SEGS-24 (Sweden 1956) The Whistling Wonder (Omega Records) - AUS #83 In a Monastery Garden Bells Across the Meadow The Skater's Waltz Dream of Olwen Beautiful Dreamer SEG 7678 EP (Holland) Bibliography References External links Ronnie Ronalde′s official website EMI catalogue page 2002 John Peel session BBC artist profile 1923 births 2015 deaths English male singers Whistlers Music hall performers People from Islington (district) British military personnel of World War II